Tejas Networks Ltd Q2 FY2026 Concall Summary & Transcript Notes

Source transcript PDF: https://www.stockscans.in/document/ddkn6pqiwj3wr68bffw60jzp.pdf

# 1. Financial Performance

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Revenue:** **₹262 Cr** Q2 (+30% QoQ) · **₹202 Cr** prior quarter
   *   **EBIT:** **-₹394 Cr** Q2 (vs. -₹232 Cr) · **Adjusted EBIT:** **-₹205 Cr**
   *   **PBT:** **-₹473 Cr** Q2 (vs. -₹297 Cr) · **Adjusted PBT:** **-₹284 Cr**
   *   **Inventory:** **₹2,383 Cr** (reduction QoQ)
   *   **Receivables:** **₹4,026 Cr** (₹700 Cr collected in quarter)
   *   **Payables:** **₹355 Cr** (down from ₹580 Cr)
   *   **Borrowings:** **₹4,166 Cr** (driven by working capital and CAPEX)

## B. Revenue Growth
   *   **Strong Sequential Rebound:** Revenue surged on a strong quarter-on-quarter basis, indicating improved execution and demand momentum despite a soft prior outlook.

## C. Margins & Profitability
   *   **Loss Widening Amid Adjustments:** Underlying losses expanded, though adjusted metrics reflect improvement, with write-offs tied to post-completion reviews of large prior-year orders.
   *   **Profitability Framework Intact:** Management affirms all projects are bid for reasonable profitability and denies any negative returns on completed projects, citing gross margin disclosures as proof.
   *   **Segment Profitability Divergence:** International projects continue to deliver higher margins than domestic ones, though overall profitability remains resilient across customer bases.

## D. Balance Sheet
   *   **Working Capital Optimization:** Inventory and payables both declined, signaling improved operational efficiency, while high receivables remain linked to the BSNL 4G milestone-based contract.
   *   **Collections in Pipeline:** Significant cash inflows expected from outstanding receivables by year-end as key project milestones near completion.

## E. Cash Flow & Borrowings
   *   **Elevated Leverage for Growth:** Borrowings increased to support higher working capital needs and strategic CAPEX for product portfolio expansion.

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# 2. Order Book & Demand

## A. Key Figures
   *   **4G RAN Cell Towers Deployed:** **97,500** (BSNL nationwide network)
   *   **Daily Data Traffic Handled:** **4 petabytes** (BSNL 4G network)
   * Active Subscribers Served: 26 million (BSNL 4G network)

## B. BSNL Project Status
   *   **Strategic Milestone Achieved:** BSNL’s 4G rollout marks India as the **fifth country globally** with a full **4G/5G technology stack**, powered entirely by Tejas’ RAN solutions.
   *   **Order Timing Clarity:** While advance purchase indications exist, formal **POs from BSNL expected in current FY**, with shipment timing dependent on PO issuance.

## C. International Wins
   *   **Global Traction Building:** Optical products secured **strategic wins across Europe, Africa, and Asia**, validating international scalability.
   *   **TCS Data Center Opportunity:** **$4–5 billion TCS investment** in data centers creates potential for Tejas in connectivity, though competitive bidding required despite group affiliation.

## D. Pipeline & POCs
   *   **Commercialization Momentum:** Successful **4G/5G RAN POC in South Asia** expected to convert into a commercial order, with multiple other POCs ongoing domestically and internationally.
   *   **Demand Driven by Data Surge:** Rapid growth in AI-fueled data consumption is accelerating backbone expansion, driving **400G deployments** and adoption of newly launched **800G and 2T products**.
   *   **Advanced Sales Pipeline:** Engagements with **multiple Indian and global operators** have progressed to technical evaluations and POCs, with **upcoming international order closures anticipated**.

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# 3. Product & Technology

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Patents Filed:** **39** in the quarter · **Total Patents:** **587**

## B. 5G Portfolio
   *   **Strategic 5G Expansion:** Launched **64T64R massive MIMO radio** and completed first 5G RAN deployment in a BSNL coal mine, demonstrating industrial 5G readiness.
   *   **Global 5G Ambition:** Building end-to-end 5G portfolio with support for both **3GPP and Open RAN**, including strategic partnerships with **NEC and Rakuten** for interoperable solutions.
   *   **Technology Breadth:** New 5G radios cover **450 MHz to 9 GHz**, with massive MIMO deployed in high-band spectrum, enabling global market applicability.

## C. Optical Innovation
   *   **High-Capacity Leadership:** Launched **2 Tbps DWDM system** and shortlisted for **2025 Network X Award** for 'Intelligent Alien Wavelength Solution' with multiple customer wins.
   *   **AI-Driven Optical Play:** Expanding data center interconnect portfolio to capture demand from **AI-driven data centers**, focusing on high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity.

## D. R&D & Patents
   *   **Next-Gen Technology Pipeline:** Active in **6G standardization** (3GPP, O-RAN, TIP, ITU) with R&D focused on **AI integration, sensing, and ubiquitous connectivity**.
   *   **Product Roadmap Commitment:** Aiming to launch **6G product in line with global timelines**, underpinned by sustained R&D and IP development.
   *   **Strategic Leadership:** Dr. Thakur to drive product strategy, semiconductor roadmap, and supply chain evolution.

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# 4. Segment & Geography Mix
  
## A. Key Figures
   *   **BharatNet Phase-3 Orders:** **Largest supplier by package count** for IP/MPLS routers  
   *   **400-Gigabit Deployments:** Secured in **5 international markets** (India, Europe, Cambodia, Ghana, Nigeria)

## B. Wireline Performance
   *   **Dominant BharatNet Positioning:** Emerged as the leading supplier in BharatNet Phase-3 by package volume, reinforcing wireline leadership in India’s national broadband expansion.

## C. Wireless Deployment
   *   **Global 400G Traction:** High-speed transport solutions gaining cross-regional adoption, with deployments spanning emerging and developed markets.  
   *   **5G-Ready 4G Rollout:** Completed BSNL’s 4G deployment using radios inherently upgradable to 5G, reducing future capex and accelerating next-gen readiness.  
   *   **Dual-Layer Wireless Expansion:** Simultaneously advancing 5G in mature markets and driving 4G buildouts in underserved regions, particularly Africa, to capture layered growth opportunities.  
   *   **Open RAN & Full-Stack Strategy:** Penetrating developed markets via Open RAN partnerships while delivering end-to-end 4G/5G solutions in developing economies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

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# 5. Manufacturing & Supply Chain

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Inventory Write-downs:** **₹145 Cr** (current + prior quarter)

## B. Inventory Write-downs
   *   **Significant Provisions:** Material inventory obsolescence charges taken due to contract manufacturing losses and design changes, reflecting operational execution challenges.
   *   **Forward Risk:** Management provides no assurance on containment, flagging **risk of further write-downs** in the next quarter.

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# 6. Risks & Execution Challenges

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Warranty Provision:** **₹44 Cr** additional allocation due to field fault rates

## B. Product Development Risk
   *   **Execution Criticality:** Failure to deliver on the product roadmap or secure success in customer trials and POCs is the top near-term risk, requiring flawless execution to win in competitive networks.
   *   **Competitive Pressure:** Even TCS-related awards do not guarantee Tejas wins, as it must **compete directly with global players like Cisco** for business.

## C. Supply Chain & Execution Challenges
   *   **Recurring Operational Issues:** Persistent quarterly problems—including delayed write-offs, late government payments, and **lack of milestone tracking**—are deemed unacceptable and pose execution risks.
   *   **Cost Impact:** Rising warranty costs reflect field performance challenges, with ₹44 Cr added provision signaling material exposure to product reliability.

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# 7. Guidance & Outlook

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Global Market Opportunity:** **$25–30 Bn** (~₹2 lakh Cr) wireless & wireline combined

## B. Market Opportunity
   *   **Strategic Expansion:** Rapid technology shifts enabling entry into new customer accounts and geographies through evolved product portfolio.  
   *   **Long-Term Ambition:** Company targets **meaningful market share** in the $25–30 billion global opportunity, underpinned by BSNL project experience and growing global traction.  
   *   **No Breakeven Disclosure:** Management cites lack of disclosed breakeven revenue due to elevated R&D spend and evolving BSNL/5G dynamics.

## C. Strategic Confidence
   *   **Bullish on Capabilities:** Management expresses strong confidence in future growth, citing proven execution in large-scale wireless and wireline deployments over past 2–3 years.  
   *   **Guidance Policy Reiterated:** Company maintains no practice of providing quarterly, annual, or 3-year financial guidance; current order book shared as real-time proxy.  
   *   **Transparency Under Scrutiny:** Investor concerns raised over lack of forward-looking disclosure and debt closure plans; management acknowledges feedback while affirming commitment to best-effort transparency.